Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-29
AFTER THE ELECTION.
LINCOLN AT THE POLLS As A
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

Incoming Intelligence Received During
the Night Following His First Elec-
tion-Congratuiations from Northern
Leaders-News from the south
Election day came and passed quietly
enough. A little before the closing of the
polls Mr.. Lincoln sent message 10 my hotel
reminding me that he had promised he would
not go 10 vote without me. and saying that
he was now ready There was not much to
be made OF the incident for newspaper pur-
poses. He had cast too many ballots In the
same place for the conventional proceeding
TO excite curiosity now, presidential candi-
date though he was. He was checred a little,
rather perfunctorily, and a few spectators
the fugacious job among them, no doubt
looked on while he tore away the list Of cleo
tors from the printed Republican ticket and
deposited the balance of the slip / remcm-
Der my disappointment al not finding mate
rial enough IN the transaction for more than
few lines of description But then ! be-
longed 70 the old school Of Journalism. Your
modern special correspondent would ask no
better basis for continuous pages of brilliant
narrative-more power 10 his nimble fingers
and still more nimble imagination.
As was 10 have been expected. the night
following the election was the most exciting
Of my visit The great insult had long been
past a doubt, but there was none the less
eagerneSs to learn the details The little tele-
graph office in the center of the town was a
scene of the hvehest interest, though only
few individuals were permitted TO invade It's
privacy and get the news fresh from the
wires.
SENSATIONAL REPORTS.
As an inevitable consequence, reports of the
most gigantic and impossible dimensions cir
culated outside. The southerners i'm Wash
ington had set fire to the capital JEFF Davis
bad proclaimed rebellion in Mississippi, and
Douglass had been seized as hostage in
Alabama Blood was running in the streets
OF New York and could not be stoppe>i The
negroes of Virginia had risen in Instruction
Buchanan had resigned the presidency. Any
person emerging from the telegraph station
and denying these and kindred rumors WAS
set down having his own reasons for con
cealing the dreadful truth As for Mr.. Lin
coin, it was, of course, preposterous To look To
him for square settlement or any statement
of the facts. The privileged half dozen who
went freely in and out being unable Ia con
firm the catalogue of horrors, became ex-
tremely unpopular, and were compelled 10
listen to unilattering remarks concerning
thvir character, vocation, manners and APP
pearance.
The president elect came frequently to
learn tho incoming intelligence, but il was
not until comparatively late hour that any
thing except formal returns began 10 arrive.
There little gathering of friendly
neighbors in "a hall not far distant where
Mrs. Lincoln sat surrounded by the laiie. Of
her acquaintance, enjoying a share Of the
triumph. Once or twice her husband looked
in upon this party, but did not long remain.
Toward midnight Geographic messages al
dressed directly 10 him commenced 10 take
the place of the regular public dispatches.
Mr. Cameron was heard from more than once
with respect TO the vote of Pennsylvania.
Words Of congratulaton and cheer came
from various Republican leaders in the north
ern states. BY and 10y the OPERATOR voice
was heard in a leSs exuberaut tone reading
out the announcement.
Hammond and Chestnut. Of South Caro-
lima, have resigned from the United States
senate.
FIRST NOTE or DIsconD
II was the first note Of discorl 20 interrupt
the general rejoicing first fnrewarning
of the shadow 10 an this brightness. IL was
unexpected, too; and, coming in the mils, 81
a tempest Of enthusiasm cent a dsngreeable
chill through most Of those who l-;ancd
few hours later IL would not have produced
80 ugly shock. ] looked az Mr Lincoln,
wondering if this sharp reminder would
bring up any sign II deeper CONSCIOUSNESS
than he bad thus far shown There was none
He received il with the same smile be had
woTn all the evening while hearing the reit-
Grated combinations 81 his succeas Was il
insensiiIity' He fingered set "a little longer.
then went out into the street. whence be did
not return--at least not while ! remained in
the vicinity. Looking forth once or twice,
saw him walking slowly up and down, quits
alone, the th0roughfares being i,y that tins
deserted Presently star 81 for my hotel
with one Of the citizens who had also waited
till near the last A. We passd the solitary
figure We exchanged leavetakiags, md my
companion Observed:
Quick work for those Saith Carolina srH
atoT.. wasn't III Turned tail 40 son "a they
got the news
There are plenty left, " answered Mr. LIN
coin a little while ago ! SIS a couple II
shooting stsrs fall down Kissing ami spu;ter-
ing Plenty left for many q bright night
Excepting for a formal farewell. ID not
again 80 h!H n fIiflHSf 81. &tI can re
member that those few Midnight woris. al
though weighted with no eyijsDce u esie~iaI
serlousTes-. had a measurable effect ia sgften-
ing the impressiou produced by bis persistent
laughing h1st8or Il was. think. the frs.
otsservation / had heard from hin8 ia which
no jest was iBpIis3 Strange a. IL seefns 81
u me Bos. ] lO,5k over the abundant noffz.
have preserved ~ that visit. during wfsch
saw Sir. Lincoln daily for more than week,
and often hours AZ a time. without finding
The faintfst foTs~haipNing II the chararter
ia which he afiegwsri revealed himself Had
any disaster interviewed o. prevent his IN
sugurstlon IN ISL. ] sboaid Bsvsr have
kno~n bow u persuade nly@sH that tbs ia
ton had suffered ar irreparabis l0@s. Was IL
becaDss of my incaEacity o sns tsnssth The
s3rfaGef Was q f-zau-e BE- chess o. wear a
mask Or ~as il a. ! grew - i@llsys, that
the Lincoln u To- war diJ not thee exist
shaH try % draw NJ further infersrces. IN:
leave the question unsettled ns 10 stsfs1is Ira
M memoranda n tx.aty three year, ago.
New York Sun.
The shy Mans Suffering